SUBDIVISION OK'D DESPITE PROTESTS

The Brookings Planning Commission Tuesday approved a request for an 11-lot subdivision to be constructed on an empty lot on the south side of Dawson Road.

Several residents in the area of the proposed construction voiced their opposition to the development.

Their main concerns were over-development, traffic safety and possible water drainage problems.

After listening to their concerns, the commission voted 6-1 to approve the application by Douglas Purdy to develop the 2.09 acre lot.

The land is located on the south side of Dawson Road where it turns from an east/west alignment to a north/south alignment.

Resident Walter L. Battaglia told the commissioners he had circulated a petition among neighbors and the majority of people living within 250 feet of the lot were opposed to it.

He obtained approximately 21 signatures from neighbors. In his letter to the neighbors, Battaglia stated he would request the Planning Commission place a building moratorium in the entire area serviced by Dawson Road.

Resident Charles Stanton said that each time an area near his property was developed, his home experienced a drop in water pressure. He said people enjoyed the openness of the area and questioned the density of the proposed site.

He requested that the commission place a moratorium on the project to give surrounding neighbors more time to organize an argument on their behalf, and that the commission consider the feelings and issues of the people who live near the site.

Resident Michael Freels voiced opposition to the ungodly amount of development with no responsibility, happening in Brookings.

He stated that overdevelopment created demographic problems and safety issues with school buses driving into the area to pick up more kids. He said that residents could no longer walk in the neighborhood because there are dogs at large.

Freels asked the commission to postpone its decision until the neighborhood had a chance to get together.

One citizen, Richard Wilson, spoke in favor of the project.

They will be nice, large lots, he said. Purdy has chosen to keep with the surrounding subdivisions with homes only. We need new houses that fit the $175,000 to $275,000 price range.

Both citizens and the commissioners agreed that the winding, S-shaped street where Dawson enters the neighborhood from Highway 101 is a hazard, and extra vehicles entering the area raised the probability of traffic accidents. There was discussion on having the curve straightened out or widened.

The commission also made a motion to request public works install a stop sign at the corner of Dawson north/south and Dawson east/west.

Developers plan to sub-divide the property into 11 lots ranging from 7,509 to 7,746 square feet, with an average lot size of 7,592.54 square feet. Zoning for the property is R-1-6, single family residential.

A 24-foot private street is planned to service the new homes, entering from the north/south alignment of Dawson Road. The proposed name for the street is Spindrift Lane and will be 217.47 feet long, terminating with a hammerhead turnaround for emergency vehicles.

Commissioner Randy Gorman expressed concerns that Spindrift Lane was not adequate to support fire and rescue vehicles, which would have a hard time negotiating the hammerhead turnaround.

City Planning Director John Bischoff said the fire chief had already reviewed and approved the plans for the street.

Residents have the right to appeal the commissions decision when the city council meets.